Automatic dumper for carrier systems



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AUTOMATIC DUMPER FOR CARRIER' SYSTEMS Filed May 17', 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 24, 1936 STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC DUMPER FOR. CARRIER SYSTEMS Application May 17, 193,4, Serial No. 726,129

Claims.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus which is used in connection with pneumatic conveyors to receive and discharge material delivered thereto by the conveyor, and an object 5 of my invention, amongv others, is the production of an apparatus of this sort that shall be particularly eiiicient in its method of operation.

One form of a machine embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which 101 the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in Which- Figure 1 is a top view of my improved .dumpen Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but looking from a point at right angles to the pont of view of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation on enlarged scale of the collector constituting a part of my improved dumper.

Figure 5 is a topy View of the same.

Figure 6 is a View in vertical section through the collector.

It is common practice at the present time to remove material from one place and deposit it in another location, by the use of pneumatic apparatus, and my improved device herein illustrated and described enables this operation to be accomplished in a most satisfactory manner by permitting the pneumatic apparatus to function to its fullest extent, the material being deposited in a collector from which it is periodically automatically discharged. In the accompanying drawings the numeral Ill denotes a case or shell 35, constituting a receiver having an inlet II to which a conveying tube is attached for delivery of material into the shell, said shell also having an outlet |2 connected with any suitable vacuum producing apparatus which operates to create a partial vacuum within the shell I in a manner that will be readily understood. The interior of the shell may be constructed in any suitable manner to separate the conveyed material from the air, this constituting no part of my invention and a description of its details therefore being omitted herein except to state that a separator I3 of fabric or other suitable material is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The shell may be supported in any suitable manner as upon legs I4 and its lower end is preferably tapered to form a hopper l5 into which the material drops from the shell |Il.

An interior collector I6 is located at the outlet from the hopper I5 to receive material discharged 55- from the latter, this collector having an inclined bottom Il and; a trap door I8 opening into an anterior collector I9 within which the interior collector is located.

The edge of the discharge opening from the collector I6 is inclined from the vertical, and as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, so that matter accumulated within the chamber in said collector will be quite freely discharged therefrom into the anterior collector I9. The trap door is secured toa shaft 20 mounted in bearings in the Walls of the anterior collector I9, said shaft having a Weighted arm 2| secured to its end outside of the collector I9, the weight acting to open the door When the latter is relieved from the inuence of the vacuum within the shell I0.

The anterior collector I9 has a trap doo-r 22 arranged similarly to the door I8, the edger of the opening against which the door 22 rests being inclined as above described, and the edges of the openings for both of the doors I8 and 22 are suitably packed to prevent the entrance of air under the influence of the vacuum within the collectors. The shaft 23 of the door 22 has a Weighted arm 24 rotatably mounted thereon and a door closing cam 25 is secured to the arm 24 in position to make contact with a weighted pad 26 at the end of the arm 2|, an-d as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A valve operating arm 21 is also secured tol the arm 24 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Pins 28 and 29 project from a collar secured to the shaft 23 and are spaced apart to receive a pin 30 projecting from the arm 24', the pin 3Q having a limited movement independently of the pins 28 and 29 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The arm 2l is connected by a rod 3| with an extension from a valve 32 which controls an opening through a nipple 33 into the top of the collector I9, this valve constituting a bleeder for the chamber within said collector. This valve is pivotally mounted on a bracket 34 secured to the top of the collector I9 and said valve has an arm 35 extending therefrom and connected by a rod 36 with a valve 31 which controls air flow through a tube 38 extending from the chamber within the collector |9 into the chamber within the shell I9.

A trap door actuating rod 39 is secured at one end to the arm 24 and at its opposite end to an extension from a bellows actuator 4S secured to the under side of a plate 4| attached to a shelf 42 secured to and projecting from the side of the shell I0, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The bellows of which said actuator comprises a part is connected by a tube 43 with and wire 48. 50

the interior of the shell IIJ, as by a connection to the tube 38, and a valve 44 controls the pressure within the tube 43, being connected by a rod 45 with a valve actuating lever 46 pivotally attached at its lower end to the shelf 42. The lever 46 is connected with the core of a solenoid 41 mounted on the shelf l2 and having line wires 48-49 connected therewith.

A timing motor 50 of any suitable type, electrical or mechanical, is mounted on the shelf 42 and is connected with a controller which it operates at a comparatively low speed by means of reduction gearing in a gear case 5I, said gearing including a shaft and said controller comprising an insulated disk 52 secured to said shaft and bearing a brush 53 adapted to sweep a contact 54 mounted on an insulated base and connected by a Wire 55 with a relay 56 connected by a wire 51 with the line wire 48. The relay 56 when energized operates a switch 58 to close the line wire 48. The brush 53 is grounded as at 59 and the Wire 49 is grounded as at 60.

The valve 44 is a three-way valve which in one position opens the tube 43 to the atmosphere and in another position opens said tube through the tube 38 to the interior of the shell IIJ.

When the apparatus is operated to draw material into the shell I9, the trap door I8 is open, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the Valve 32 is closed, and the valve 3'! opens communication between the chamber in the collector I9 and the interior of the case I8.

The three-way valve 44 is in position to open the tube 43 to the atmosphere so that the bellows actuator 4G is expanded as shown in Fig. 3 and the vacuum produced in the chamber in the co1- lector I9 maintains the trap door 22 in its closed position. Communication through the pipe 38 between the chamber in the collector I9 and the chamber in the shell I equalizes the vacuum on both sides of the door I8 permitting it to remain open. This is the position of the parts when the electric circuit is broken by the controller embodying the disk 52, said disk, however, being rotated by the timing motor 50.

When the brush 53 touches the contact 54 a circuit is established through the wire 49, grounds 60 and 59, brush 53, contact 54, Wire 55, relay 56 Energizing of the relay closes the switch blade 58 thereby establishing a circuit through the solenoid 41. The core of the solenoid being drawn inwardly the valve actuating lever 46 is operated to turn the three-way valve 44 thereby establishing communication through the tube 43 from the actuator 48 to the interior of the shell III, which creates a partial vacuum in the bellows comprising said actuator to collapse it, and this draws the rod 39 upwardly, rotates the arm 24 on the shaft 23. This movement of the arm 24 independently of said shaft presses the cam 25 into contact with the pad 26, to close the trap door I8. At the same time the arm 21 is operated to open the valve 32 thereby relieving the vacuum in the chamber in the collector I9, the Valve 31 being simultaneously operated to cut off the vacuum through the pipe 38. Just after the door I8 has been closed and the valve 32 has been opened the pin 30 strikes the pin 29 thereby rotating the shaft 23 to open the door 22 and permit the contents of the chamber in the collector I9 to be discharged. Immediately upon release of the vacuum in the chamber in the collector I9 by the opening of the valve 32 the partial vacuum within the shell Ill and the acca/ilo interior collector I6 causes the door I8 to remain closed.

As the brush 53 leaves the contact 54 the electric circuit is opened at all points, the switch 58 opening automatically and a spring I acting on the core of the solenoid 41 pushes the core outwardly, thereby operating the three-Way valve 44 to open the tube 43 to the atmosphere. This relieves the partial vacuum in the controller which includes the actuator 49 and the weighted arm 24 expands said controller and as the pin 30 comes into contact with the pin 28 the door 22 is closed and pressure of the cam 25 on the door I8 is relieved so that the latter may open. This contact of the pin 3l) with the pin 28 also closes the valve 32 and this action also operates the valve 3l to open the tube 38 for communication between the chamber in the shell I5 and in the collector I9, thereby creating the same Vacuum in the latter chamber as in the shell and permitting the door I8 to open. The parts are now in the position for a repetition of the action just described.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider torepresent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

l. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, and mechanism connected with the door of the anterior collector and automatically actuated by pressure within the shell for opening said last mentioned door.

2. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a Vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, a trap door for said collector, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for said interior collector, yielding means for opening said door to the interior collector, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, and mechanism connected with the door of the anterior collector and automatically actuated by pressure within the shell for opening said last mentioned door.

3. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, a trap door for said collector, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for said interior collector, a weighted device connected with said last mentioned door to open it, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, and mechanism connected with the door of the anterior collector and automatically actuated by pressure Within the shell for opening said last mentioned door.

4. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively 1ocated with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a weighted device connected with the door of the interior collector to open it, an arm attached to the door of the anterior collector for opening it, a connection between the door of the anterior collector and the door of the interior collector` to close the latter, and a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in said shell.

5. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means connected with the door of the anterior collector and automatically actuated by pressure within the shell for opening said last mentioned door, and time operated merchanism connected with said door opening means for regulating its operation.

6. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the an erior` collector and the chamber in the shell, means loosely connected with the door of the anterior collector to open it, said means having a limited movement independently of said door, and a connection between said door opening means and the door to the interior collector for operation of the latter independently of the former.

'7. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inletfor supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom or the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means connected with the door' of the anterior collector and automatically actuated by pressure within the shell for opening said last mentioned door, and a valve connected with said door opening means to admit air to the chamber in the anterior collector.

8. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means for admitting air to the chamber in the anterior collector, means loosely connected with the door of the anterior collector for opening it, said means having a limited movement independently of said door, a connection between said door opening means and the door of the interior collector for operation of the latter independently of the former, and a connection between said door opening means and said air admitting means for operation of the latter before opening movement of said door.

9. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located With respect to said anterior collector, trap doors for each of said collectors, a tubularv connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, a shaft for the door of the anterior collector, a door opening arm pivotally mounted on said shaft, means rigid with said shaft for engagement by said door opening arm after the beginning of movement of the latter to open said door, and a connection between said door opening arm and a device closing an opening into the chamber in said anterior collector for operation of said device by said arm.

10. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located f with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means connected with the door of the anterior collector for opening it, pressure actuated means connected with the chamber in said shell and with said door opening means for operation of the latter by pressure within the shell, and means for controlling pressure within said pressure actuated means.

11. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means connected with the door of the anterior collector for opening it, a bellows actuator connected with said door opening means, a tubular connection between said bellows actuator and the chamber within the shell, and a valve for controlling said last mentioned tubular connection.

l2. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a Vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to the anterior collector, trap doo-rs for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means connected with the door of the anterior collector for opening it, a bellows actuator operatively connected with said door opening means, a tubular connection between said bellows actuator and the chamber in the shell, a valve to control said connection, and a time actuated device connected with said valve for operating it.

13. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means connected with the door of the anterior collector and automatically regulated by pressure within the shell for opening said last mentioned door, a valve in said tube, and a connection between said valve and said door opening means for actuation of the former by the latter.

14. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, means connected with the door of the anterior collector for opening it, a valve for admitting air to the chamber in said anterior collector, an operative connection between said valve and said door opening means, a Valve in said tubular connection, and a connection between said valves for operation of one by the other.

15. A dumping apparatus including a shell having an inlet for supply of material thereto and an outlet for connection to a Vacuum producing apparatus, an anterior collector at the bottom of the shell, an interior collector relatively located with respect to said anterior collector, a trap door for each of said collectors, a tubular connection between the chamber in the anterior collector and the chamber in the shell, a valve in said tubular connection, a connection between said door opening means and said valve for operation of the latter by the former, a pressure actuator operatively connected with said door opening means, a tubular connection between said actuator and the chamber within the shell, a valve for controlling said last mentioned tubular connection and arranged to open said connection to the air or to said pressure actuator, and time actuated means for operating said valve.

LESTER C. SMITH. 

